Coding Bootcamps

Does anyone have experience with these coding bootcamps, or know somebody that does? Is it easy to find employment after completing the bootcamp? Any advice? I am curious about it and exploring the programs right now.

My hubby just accepted an offer at a large metropolitan area out west, so I am looking for a new job. There are not many companies of my current industry present in the new city, so I would probably have to take an entry-level job in a different industry. I am thinking about using this relocation as an opportunity for a career change. Maybe look for work in the new city and at the same time attend a coding bootcamp (full time or part time, depending) and see which one pans out. Am I too naive?

I started considering it because I liked coding. I had some programming experience in college (one programming class was required to graduate) and enjoyed it very much. I just haven't use it at all after I graduated. My current profession pays pretty well (about 80k annual salary), but the job opportunities are somewhat limited geographically. Also, it's a job that I can never tele-communte: I have to be there in person and be on call at night and on weekends. I like some aspects of the current job but it's definitely not my passion. I am hoping to grow our family in the next couple of years, so I'm looking for more flexibility (potentially WFM sometimes) and mobility (able to find a job in most cities wherever life's journey takes us).

Comments (16)

I work in a software company. I haven't done one of those programs, but I know people who have. I know 2 people who were already at the company, doing less technical jobs, and took time off, did a coding bootcamp, came back, and after a while were able to transition to coding jobs. Great all around.

I also know a couple of people closer to your situation, who came from other fields and did coding bootcamps. Those people don't have programming jobs today. I know 3 who interviewed at my company and didn't get past the first round, and I don't know of anyone being hired here as a programmer without either a college degree in the field or previous work experience.

Now, that doesn't mean some options wouldn't open up with that kind of training, but I think you have to temper your expectations. I would expect that you could get an entry-level job, maybe at a small company or as a part-timer/contractor somewhere. That could help you build experience for sure, but I doubt very much that you could just walk into a full-time, traditional programming job after one of those bootcamps.

I work in a software company. I haven't done one of those programs, but I...

Posted
09/10/2018

I work in a software company. I haven't done one of those programs, but I know people who have. I know 2 people who were already at the company, doing less technical jobs, and took time off, did a coding bootcamp, came back, and after a while were able to transition to coding jobs. Great all around.

I also know a couple of people closer to your situation, who came from other fields and did coding bootcamps. Those people don't have programming jobs today. I know 3 who interviewed at my company and didn't get past the first round, and I don't know of anyone being hired here as a programmer without either a college degree in the field or previous work experience.

Now, that doesn't mean some options wouldn't open up with that kind of training, but I think you have to temper your expectations. I would expect that you could get an entry-level job, maybe at a small company or as a part-timer/contractor somewhere. That could help you build experience for sure, but I doubt very much that you could just walk into a full-time, traditional programming job after one of those bootcamps.

I see. That's good to know. Would a degree in CS be more valuable? Obviously it's more commitment as well. Maybe I can do the bootcamp part time and decide if I want to go back to school?

I work in a software company. I haven't done one of those programs, but I...

Posted
09/10/2018

I work in a software company. I haven't done one of those programs, but I know people who have. I know 2 people who were already at the company, doing less technical jobs, and took time off, did a coding bootcamp, came back, and after a while were able to transition to coding jobs. Great all around.

I also know a couple of people closer to your situation, who came from other fields and did coding bootcamps. Those people don't have programming jobs today. I know 3 who interviewed at my company and didn't get past the first round, and I don't know of anyone being hired here as a programmer without either a college degree in the field or previous work experience.

Now, that doesn't mean some options wouldn't open up with that kind of training, but I think you have to temper your expectations. I would expect that you could get an entry-level job, maybe at a small company or as a part-timer/contractor somewhere. That could help you build experience for sure, but I doubt very much that you could just walk into a full-time, traditional programming job after one of those bootcamps.

I'd like to add, you could take on a role like IT BA, which requires some coding exp, but not that you be an experienced programmer, and work on building your skill set.

I also work in a dept that does a lot of work w/ SQL queries, pulling data. So something like could be a transitional type job.

I'd like to add, you could take on a role like IT BA, which requires some...

Posted
09/10/2018

I'd like to add, you could take on a role like IT BA, which requires some coding exp, but not that you be an experienced programmer, and work on building your skill set.

I also work in a dept that does a lot of work w/ SQL queries, pulling data. So something like could be a transitional type job.

This is a good point. There are plenty of jobs in the technical field that require some technical expertise, but aren't 100% coding jobs. I just want OP (original poster) to go into it with her eyes open. I don't see people coming out of these bootcamps and getting the $70K+ salaries and full-time programming jobs that some of those programs seem to promise.

OP, if this is something that interests you and you've already worked in adjacent fields, it could certainly open up new possibilities. But they might be more entry level and lower paid than what you're used to.

This is a good point. There are plenty of jobs in the technical field that re...

Posted
09/10/2018

This is a good point. There are plenty of jobs in the technical field that require some technical expertise, but aren't 100% coding jobs. I just want OP to go into it with her eyes open. I don't see people coming out of these bootcamps and getting the $70K+ salaries and full-time programming jobs that some of those programs seem to promise.

OP, if this is something that interests you and you've already worked in adjacent fields, it could certainly open up new possibilities. But they might be more entry level and lower paid than what you're used to.

No, you are right. It also helps if you are already in a company and can transfer into IT, w/ those new skill sets and build. My current role, I have no SQL experience. Like, not even a little. But I'm being taught. I was hired for my other experience (I was an IT PM and then an ITBA, as our business needs changed) So, I will learn this new skill set, use it in this capacity, and hopefully use it to get to the next level here, and build upon it. i find a lot of times companies will hire folks internally w/ the intent to build their skill set. At least that's what I see in my company. But off the street new hires are different. They want them to come in w/ the experience in hand

It depends on where you will be located. If you'll be in Seattle or SF Bay Area, you might be able to find an internship after bootcamp that will lead to a $90k+ job after the internship. But you need a really solid project on Github to get that. When looking at bootcamps, definitely check out their job placement approaches. A CS degree is definitely a surer path to a job, but if you're in a hot tech area you should be able to find something.

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